Meryn looked around helplessly as she dangled in his grasp. Her hopes for escape plummeted when she saw that they were now completely surrounded by no less than twelve huge men all carrying weapons.
“Okay, I saw this movie and I didn’t like it. Can I just go home now?” She took in their military gear and closed her eyes.
“I didn’t see anything I swear.”
“Who sent you?” Meryn opened her eyes to see another blond man stepping forward. At first she thought he might be related to the guy holding her but this man had amber colored eyes not green and higher cheekbones. It was a gorgeous combination.
“No one.”
“So you just decided to climb a random fence just to see what was on the other side?” There was no hiding the sarcasm in that question.
She nodded frantically.
“Actually yup. I just moved to town and I woke up and had this overwhelming urge to go exploring. It pushed me here.” She noticed how the men gave each other meaningful looks.
“So are you guys like paramilitary? Secret CIA training base? That would be cool.” Meryn asked.
All eyes turned back to her. She flinched and closed her eyes again.
“I mean, I see nothing, I hear nothing and I most definitely won’t say shit.”
The man behind her snorted. The sound of men approaching had her opening her eyes again.
Out of the woods two more men appeared. One looked like he glided over the fallen leaves, the other trampled through them recklessly his blue eyes hard. He looked like he was the type of man who wore a perpetual scowl.
The angry one looked her over.
“What’s your name?”
“These are not the droids that you seek.” She said. The smaller auburn haired man to her left cracked up. The hulking man glared at him.
“Quiet Keelan.” He turned his gaze back to her.
“Come on, that’s Star Wars.” Keelan explained.
“She fights star type wars?” He asked concerned. She looked up at him.
“Seriously?”

“I suppose you want to talk about your dog people.” She edged closer to the nightstand.
“Dog people? Oh, you saw Colton. Right. How do I explain this?” He rubbed the back of his neck, his face taking on a sheepish expression. If he weren’t her abductor, she would say he looked adorable.
“Start with the dog thing.” she suggested.
“Colton is one of the men in the unit that I serve with. Each man in the unit is a little … different than most people. Colton happens to be a shifter. He can turn into a wolf.”
Meryn blinked. Then blinked again. Without looking away from him she ran her fingers over the heavy looking lamp base.
“So you’re a wolf?” she asked, not really wanting to know the answer.
He looked offended. “Of course not.”
She let out a relieved breath.
“I’m a bear.”
She closed her eyes. “Why me? Why does this shit always happen to me?” When she opened her eyes he had moved a little closer. She tensed. He leaned in and sniffed her hair.
“Are you sniffing me?” she asked incredulously.
“I want to be sure. Let me ask you something, are you drawn to me?” His eyebrows were bunched together as he frowned down at her.
“Do you mean do I want to have hot, sweaty sex with you?” she asked.
“No! Wait. Do you?” he asked hopefully.
“Not answering that.”
“Right.” Aiden thought for a second before asking. “Do you know about animals?”
“I guess I know what most people know.”
“Do you know that wolves mate for life?”
“So do swans.” She had seen that on National Geographic. He looked surprised.
“They do? Really?”
“Yup,” she nodded.
“I never knew that.”
“What was your point?”
“Sorry, got distracted. The point is that people like me, and the ‘dog people’ like Colton, we only get one mate in life, like wolves in the wild. You are my mate.” He smiled down at her.
Oh God, he wanted to mate with her!
She grabbed the lamp and pulled the wire from the socket.
“Is this some freaky ass cult?” She threw the lamp as hard as she could at him. She smiled in satisfaction when it bounced off his head. The satisfaction was short lived when he turned his irritated gaze her way. She jumped on the bed and kept going until she backed into the corner with the second nightstand at her back and the king size mattress between them.
“I won’t become part of the collective. I refuse to have your babies. Resistance isn’t futile!” she screamed and picked up the second lamp. He turned and fled the room. Breathing hard, she put the lamp down with shaking hands. He seemed to run from objects thrown at him. She decided she needed to search the room and bathroom for more projectile objects. Feeling better now that she had even a small plan she got to work.

My Protector- (Book 2)

Excerpt:

Gavriel followed behind Aiden. He wanted to pick up some chocolate for Beth and he was dying to see what advice the old man had for Aiden. Walking behind his Commander they approached the register where the aged man sat flipping through an old Bass and Guns magazine. The older man’s face brightened when he saw Aiden approaching.
“Well look what the cat dragged in. Been awhile son, surely you don’t need more feminine products, considering how much you bought last time you was here.”
“Sir, I…” Aiden began. The old man held up a wrinkled hand.
“My name is Bartholomew son, you can call me Bart. I have a feeling I’ll be seeing a lot of you, we might as well be on first name basis.”
Aiden thrust his hand out giving the old man’s hand a through shake.
“My name is Aiden McKenzie, this is my… friend Gavriel Ambrosios.” Aiden nodded in his direction. Gavriel grinned wickedly and let his power rise. The old man’s eyes widened. Gavriel fought back a smile, this old timer was still sharp.
Shaken, Bart turned to Aiden. “Okay son, what’s yer question?”
“What do you buy a woman to get back on her good side when you’ve made her really angry? Cake? Fudge?”
The wrinkles on the old man’s face scrunched together as he frowned.
“How angry did you make her boy?”
“She set my car on fire.”
The old man blinked and then began to laugh. He laughed so hard that he began to hack and wheeze. Gavriel thought for sure that Aiden had killed the gentleman. Holding his stomach the man continued to laugh as he reached for a pen and piece of paper. With a shaky hand he scrawled something on the paper and thrust it at Aiden. He exhaled and wiped his eyes still chuckling to himself.
Aiden looked at the paper. “Is this a place that sells good chocolate?” he asked.
“No son, that is the address where they sell jewelry. Chocolate can fix a lot of things, but it’s not the embodiment of kitten angel tears if you know what I mean. If yer woman set your car on fire, then son, the only thing that can help you at this point is something shiny.” The old man rubbed his rounded belly and began to chuckle again at Aiden’s chagrin.
“Come on sir, I know that place he is recommending, they do sell nice pieces there. How about you go wait in the car while I buy these candy bars.” Gavriel sympathetically pat Aiden on the back before he trudged back to the car. Gavriel turned to face the old man.
“His woman really that feisty?”
“You have no idea.”
“What a lucky bastard.”
Gavriel grinned. “Mine’s feistier.”
The old man shook his head and rang up the candy bars.
“I have a feeling I’ll be seeing more of you boys.”
Gavriel picked up the bag. “You’re probably right.”
Whistling he walked out of the store to meet up with Aiden.

Colton leaned against the SUV and sighed. He looked down the long, dark dirt road that circled the outskirts of Lycaonia, still no sign of their unexpected visitor. When Aiden had knocked on his door the night prior to ask him to take this early morning lookout, he had jumped at the chance, anything to avoid another sleepless night. He had to admit even if only to himself, that the odds that this was his mate on her way to him was slim, but waiting out here in frigid temperatures was preferable to watching his mate be killed in his dreams.
In the distance he could see a faint glow. As it moved closer he realized that it was a car coming towards him. He stood and walked until he was in the middle of the road. The sun was coming up providing enough light that he wasn’t worried about being run over. Slowly the car rolled to a stop a good distance away, seconds later the driver’s side door opened and a small figure got out.
“Hello there!” he called. “My name is Colton Albright, I’m your escort into Lycaonia.”
“How do I know that?” a female voice yelled.
Huh?
“Do you have any ID?” she asked.
He scowled. “Do you mean the official Lycaonia ID that states that I am a wolf-shifter from a secret paranormal city? No, I left that in my other pair of pants.”
“You don’t have to be snarky about it,” she admonished.
He squinted, trying to see if she was kidding. He could see the outline of her body, but not much else. “You’re going to have to trust me. I’m going to get in my car and drive to the Alpha estate where you will meet with the Unit Commander. He’s in charge of placing you in a safe house. I suggest following closely, the turn off is well hidden.” Without waiting for a reply he turned and got into the car. Grumbling he fastened his seatbelt. “Pain in the ass woman.”
When he began to pull away he noticed that she was right on his ass. He thought about tapping his brakes but didn’t feel like explaining to Aiden why the SUV needed repair work, not when Aiden’s own car was still in the shop from Meryn torching it, smiling at that memory he cranked up his iPod. His compilation of songs from Supernatural blared inside the SUV. As soon as they got to the estate he would drop the crazy woman in Aiden’s lap and go watch Supernatural reruns until he passed out. He was always surprised at how much they got right.
When they got to the estate he couldn’t help himself, he slammed on the brakes bringing the SUV to a screeching stop. Sure enough, the car behind him hit the back of his car.
Shouldn’t have been following so closely.
Smirking he grabbed his iPod and got out of the car. He was making his way to the front door when he heard an angry woman’s voice behind him.
“What in the hell was that?” she demanded.
Turning he watched as the woman fought with her seatbelt that was still wrapped around one arm. In a fit of anger she threw it to one side and slammed the car door. She marched towards him, and as she got closer Colton felt his stomach drop. He knew her. She had the same heart shaped face framed by sun kissed light brown hair as the woman in his dreams. Her eyes were a perfect mixture of blue and grey. He had only ever seen those eyes anxious, sympathetic or afraid, but never pissed. She was just as beautiful in life as she had been in his dreams.
She stomped up the porch stairs and began poking him in the chest.
“What kind of immature stunt was that? I have had one of the worst nights of my life and you pull this shit? You’re lucky my brothers aren’t here they would …”
He watched as she stopped and realized what she said. Tears filled her eyes, though her expression remained defiant. With a shaking hand he reached out and cupped her face.
“Thank the gods,” he whispered. He couldn’t keep the tremor out of his voice.
She looked puzzled at first and then her eyes widened.
“You’re the voice from my dream, aren’t you? They said that the voice might belong to my mate,” she said, and stood stock still.
He nodded before pulling her close, he simply held her against him.
She pushed against his chest and stepped back. “You weren’t an asshole in my dreams,” she said bluntly.
He grinned. She was spunky. “And you weren’t a prickly bitch in my dreams either.”
Her mouth dropped and she just stared at him. Seconds went by before she began to smile. “I can’t believe you said that. Aren’t you going to try to woo me or sweep me off my feet?”
He shrugged. “Something tells me you’re not the type of woman that wants to be swept off her feet. In fact, I’m willing to put money on the fact that you’re the type of woman that likes to be in charge.”
She winced. “Actually, yeah.” She squinted up at him. “And you’re okay with that? Most men like meek women.”
He gave her his most wolfish grin. He was pleased when he saw her eyes lighten in amusement. “I don’t have to be in charge, but that doesn’t mean I’m not dominant.” He leaned in and buried his nose where her neck and shoulder met. He inhaled deeply, shuddering at her scent. He bit down lightly and heard her gasp. Almost instantly he could smell her arousal. “Just because I’m not always in charge, doesn’t mean I’m not an Alpha,” he whispered, letting his lips dance on her skin.

Did you change your mind about claiming me?” She asked in a joking manner indicating to his attire and the wine.
He shook his head. “I stopped fighting. The idea of seeing you like this, this intimacy, I couldn’t stay away. Like a moth to a flame, except I want to be burned. If these are to be my final days, I want your touch to act as a brand that will set me on fire. I don’t mind bathing myself in your blazing light knowing that my cremation will set you free.”

Kendrick was about to answer when the door slammed open. An angry young man with blond hair stormed into the room. Anne jumped to her feet. “You can’t be in here!” she said angrily setting her laptop down in her chair.
The man walked up to where Kendrick sat and poked him in the chest. “You! Who do you think you are changing the rules? When a member of a unit is killed a trainee takes their place. You can’t just waltz in here and do whatever you want, witch!” he hissed into Kendrick’s face.
Anne stared in shock. Behind the angry intruder, four more young men appeared in the doorway, all of them looked equal parts mortified and apprehensive.
“Sterling let it go! This was decided by the Unit Commander, you need to stand down.” The dark haired man with blue eyes stepped forward acting as the leader of the group.
“Shut it Lennox! By all rights Basil should have been placed with Alpha when Keelan was killed.” Sterling retorted.
Lennox ground his teeth together. “Keelan isn’t dead you jackass! Why do I get the feeling that you don’t care in the least bit about Basil, this is about you somehow isn’t it?”
Sterling looked over to Lennox a sneer on his face. “Aiden McKenize has been changing too many rules lately. If he skips over advancing Basil, who’s to say he won’t skip over us?”
“I’ll put money on the fact they skip over you, dickhead.” The one with black hair muttered.
“Fuck you Kai! You may like fawning over the warriors dreaming of the day for advancement, but I plan on advancing.” Sterling swung his gaze back to Kendrick who remained seated. Kendrick licked his finger and turned the page, deliberately ignoring the man.
“I’m talking to you!” Sterling knocked the book out of Kendrick’s hands.
Bad move dude.
Anne grinned openly as Kendrick stood to his full height. At six foot six he towered over the young man.
Sterling’s eyes widened as he took his Kendrick’s muscled form. “But, you’re a witch.”

Adriel looked to Meryn. “Do you prefer shifters because you’re mated to one?” he asked curiously.
She shook her head. “I think that shifters are more fun, but I don’t think that’s because I’m mated to Aiden. If anything Colton helped foster that idea. He plays with me in wolf form.”
Declan smiled wide. “Seriously? Like stick fetch?”
Meryn shook her head. “No, we use a ball.”
Declan simply slumped to one side laughing. “I can’t take it anymore, please stop.” He wrapped his arms around his stomach. “It hurts.”
Etain smiled slyly. “Ask him what animal his is Meryn.”
Meryn’s eyes lit up. “What kind?”
Declan sat up grinning. “I’m a lion.”
Meryn’s eyes got huge. “Like Mufasa!”
Etain chuckled regally.
Declan swatted at him. “Not funny.” He turned to Aiden. “You have no idea how good it is to have you here sir.”
“Nants ingonyama bagithi baba!” Meryn sung.
Micah pointed at Declan laughing wordlessly.
Declan shook his head while smiling. “I happened to like that movie.”
Meryn gave him a thumbs up. “It kicked ass.”
Adriel looked around the table shocked. He couldn’t remember the last time his men were so open and jovial. He turned to his prince. Magnus was smiling, Broderick was teasing his daughter about her charge and Caspian watched enraptured.
“She did that back home too. She somehow brings people closer together, and the funny thing is, she doesn’t even try. She does in naturally.” Aiden said quietly.
“What an amazing gift.” Adriel looked at the small human in a new light.

Author Bio:
USA Today Best Selling Author, Alanea loves reading almost as much as she loves writing. She began writing at a very young age, some of her first scribblings are treasured in a keepsake box and written in green marker. She started when she was still in grade school and continued on through college.
She believes that love truly conquers all and that everyone no matter what, deserves a chance at that love and a place they can call home. She absolutely loves to hear from her readers so don’t hesitate to reach out to her. As always her promise to her readers remains, “If you keep reading, I’ll keep writing!”
Author Links:
Author Alanea Alder

Writing came relatively late in life for KL after a challenge by a friend led to The Everything Trilogy. She loves creating new characters and story lines. KL has worked in the health and social care sector for most of her adult life, so to have the opportunity to step out of serious roles and create colourful characters is very rewarding. She enjoys where they take her and each character has his or her own voice. KL doesn’t use prepared outlines for her stories, preferring the characters to take their own direction as the story progresses.

Lily’s friends in London regard her as having the whole package. Smart, beautiful, and musically talented, she’s finally realised her dream to study in the USA, by securing a music place at college in Miami. She regards herself as worldly, having lived the London life and travelled to Mumbai to work in an orphanage in the past, so felt more than able to cope with living and studying abroad.
On arrival in Florida, everything on the surface seems to be running to plan. That is, until a chance encounter on campus with a stunningly handsome, charismatic, rock-god-like musician, Alfie, leads her into a no-strings sexual relationship with him. Until she arrived in the USA, Lily had tried to avoid personal relationships with the opposite sex, not wanting anything to affect her plans. She was sexually naïve but after meeting Alfie, she convinces herself she’s able to deal with what Alfie is offering her. What follows takes Lily on a roller coaster of emotions and after a surprise visit from Max, her friend and room mate’s brother it leaves her questioning her morals.
At college Lily quickly teams up with Will, a handsome sax player, who helps her develop her creative ideas and performs with her as a duo in the Miami music scene. A series of bad choices in her relationships with Alfie, Max and Will, create emotional turmoil for Lily, which leaves her doubting her judgement about men. Each of the three men has a special place in her heart for different reasons. She realises that she’s no match for Alfie and tries to resist his attention. He’s told her he can’t love her, but wants to be with her physically, arguing, sex between them is enough. The reality for Lily is she knows enough isn’t everything.

Lily’s back on her home turf in London for Christmas after a turbulent term, studying music in Miami. She wonders if her relationship with Will can survive their stupidity and what this means for their music collaboration. Lily realises all too late, that she’s fallen hard for Alfie despite his declaration to her that he can’t love her. This has left Lily devastated, knowing that the man she loves will never feel the same for her. Meanwhile, Alfie has continued his relentless pursuit of Lily to take what he wants from her, testing her resolve not to continue their relationship. She had found the strength to resist all of his advances, until the night before she flew home. After giving herself one last night with him, she fled across the Atlantic, thinking time and distance with family and friends would help heal her broken heart. What Lily never expected, was for her traumatic love life to follow her, both to London and Miami through the chapters of her life, during the following year. Her music career and studies improve tremendously though, fuelling her performance and personal identity, but her love life is as complex as ever. Alfie makes some disclosures, which could be game changers for the both of them, and asks for her trust and time. Lily wonders if she should trust him, asking herself if Alfie could ever be, everything she needs?

Lily’s is moving forward after her break up with Alfie. Her journey continues through some extremely emotional times during key events, as
she becomes more self- assured and begins to develop as an performing artist. It isn’t easy for Lily to forget Alfie because of circumstances with Alfie’s life. However, Lily is tortured by constant reminders of their time together, and this does little for her resolve to move on.

Although, Lily has made her choice, it is also tinged with sadness. Her love for Alfie remains strong, and she fights a constant internal battle, between loving him and loving her music. Lily thinks it’s impossible to have both. A fabulous opportunity arises for Lily, but there is a possibility of this bringing her face to face with Alfie again. Can Lily cope with the emotional turmoil this would bring her? Or, is the risk of seeing Alfie something she feels able to manage now?

Musically, Lily concentrates her efforts much more, which brings success, post Alfie. Through this, she finds friends in some of the most unlikely of circumstances. All of her friends continue to protect her, and are all well aware of the impact Lily’s relationship with Alfie has had on her. All apart from Elle, who gives Lily food for thought. Although, Lily’s mind is still plagued with memories of Alfie, which continues to impact on her to such an extent, Lily has been unable to form new romantic ties. Professionally, her relationships couldn’t be better. She is offered some amazing opportunities rarely available, and is determined to do make the most of them. This is especially important to her, given the sacrifices she has made in the past to do this.

Will Lily’s music be enough for her, and prove to be everything she ever wanted?

Alfie Black has everything he needs to pass scrutiny as a rock star. He’s a drop dead gorgeous specimen of a man. Rough around the edges, yet still flawless to look at. Alfie is a jaw dropping, pantie melting, tattooed bad boy, add to that tall and athletically toned with a fabulous face, eyes and smile, and it’s easy to see he’d be going places. Ticking most of the boxes that its required to be the lead singer in a band, the last part of the equation may not have mattered much. However, Alfie is an incredibly talented singer and musician. Women want Alfie. Men want to be Alfie.

So gifted, Alfie is given opportunities to progress both as an artiste, with his band Crakt Soundzz, but also share his passion and pass his knowledge on to others at music college. Alfie’s journey in life should be going in one direction, but his sole focus is on taking care of his responsibilities. Unforeseen Circumstances dictate what he needs. And what he is willing to accept. This is something he isn’t willing to compromise on. Focused and determined, the last thing Alfie needs is a distraction. What Alfie wants and what is happening in his life couldn’t be more opposite, but he is determined to keep going no matter what (for now, it he thinks it’s enough). That is, until he meets Lily, the English girl who arrives to Miami in order to attend college and study music.
​
Lily is Alfie’s equal in many ways, musically gifted, stunning and in a different league to any girl Alfie has ever known. She is focused and driven. Single minded about her one passion in life, Music. The only thing Lily has ever wanted in life is to play music, and do it well. When Lily’s journey crosses Alfie’s life path, what ensues for the both of them, is a complex ride of emotions and feelings that neither of them; despite all of their combined attributes, are equipped to deal with. Alfie is emotionally locked down, both from past experiences and his current situation. Lily is sexually naive and inexperienced. When their world’s collide there are far reaching consequences for the both of them, which neither expected. How can Alfie and Lily be together? Discover it in Alfie’s story as he shares his thoughts, feelings and his emotional conflict.

Being Lily Parnell’s best friend came effortlessly for Jack. Growing up together, Jack loved Lily and was fiercely protective of her. For almost all of his life all he wanted was to make her happy. When she was happy he was happy, except Lily lived a world away from him now and Jack missed her dreadfully.
As far as Jack was concerned there had never been a time in their lives where they hadn’t shared everything and he valued their special bond. In recent years Lily’s ambitions took her overseas and even with an ocean between them, Jack still managed to support his best friend.
One day something changed everything between them and their relationship began to shift. Lily had carved her own life and after observing a scene involving her, it made Jack take a close look at his own.
Life post-Lily left Jack feeling confused and he decided to take a difficult decision, never realising the potential fallout from doing something he strongly felt was the right thing at the time.
With his life laid bare and as a simple, uncomplicated guy he thought he had finally figured things out. Women loved Jack but they had all come and gone in his life apart from Lily. She was always there until one day she wasn’t.
A revelation by Lily left Jack feeling betrayed and abandoned by the one person who he thought he could rely on no matter what.
During his journey from that moment on Jack faced more separation and loss than he could have ever imagined. How would his experiences shape him as a man and would he ever find it in his heart to forgive?

Being Floridian born and bred, Alfie Black didn’t usually ‘do’ winters. Lily Parnell, his girl, was from London and used to seasons. Winter was one of her favorites. As famous musicians both were used to living their lives in the limelight. Alfie, a rock legend, and Lily also a rock star in her own right, were propelled to ‘Rock Royalty’ just by being together.

Add their close friend, Rick Fars, another ‘Rock God’ into the equation, and it was easy to see how difficult it was to maintain any kind of friendships without the media tagging along looking for the latest scoop. These days one never seemed to be mentioned without the other.

However, a rare window of opportunity in all of their schedules arose and so did Alfie’s desire. With Christmas only two weeks away and eight days of downtime, Alfie seized it with both hands.

Three rockers, alcohol, a cabin in the snow, and time on their hands, how does that go down?

Gibson Barclay has been famous for almost seven years and he’s only twenty-four.

Seldom does anyone pick up a magazine, newspaper or watch a television entertainment show, without seeing his image or reading about his promiscuous antics. He had no need to court publicity with his magnetic charm and charismatic ways; when he chooses to cooperate that is. Shrugging off the advice of publicists and image consultants, Gibson makes no excuses for who he is, and with no ties, he answers to no one about how he chooses to live his life. From teenage musician to twenties mega rock star, Gibson has seen and done it all. Women fantasize about him and men envy his rock scene, womanizing lifestyle. Only one person ever made Gibson feel uncomfortable about the way he lived his life. No one ever said no to him that he can remember, although there were two minute events that he has never been able to shake from his mind. Both of those events involved the way Chloe Jenner looked at him. It was something and nothing, but for him, the impact haunted him. In the strangest twist of fate, something so wildly obscure occurred, that set his mind ablaze with the memory of that small encounter. Like all women, Chloe found Gibson striking and had even shared with her friends, her own guilty fantasy about him. Fantasy and reality were poles apart and Chloe believed that Gibson Barclay never even knew that she existed.

Taking a chance on Gibson Barclay was something Chloe never envisaged in her future when she was in college. Years later, she found herself thrown into his world with no immediate way out. She knew that trying to be the girlfriend of Gibson Barclay would come at a price. Was she capable of trusting him with his notorious womanizing reputation and temptation only a heartbeat away? Chloe was still dealing with her own dark event, and with the media constantly thirsty for new information about Gibson and his life, it meant Chloe would constantly watching over her shoulder, fearful of her past rearing its ugly head again. Gibson promised to protect Chloe, but how could he keep her safe from the past that still haunts her with his life in the spotlight? When Gibson’s trust is put to the test how will he react?

At fifteen years old, Valerie Darsin, was loved and cherished by her brothers and boyfriend. Her small town world was happy and secure until a sudden betrayal forced her to flee. Returning home, Valerie found support in Flynn Docherty-a guy who left her with unfamiliar feelings when he disappeared from her life. Valerie learned to move on, until a life-changing event brought Flynn back, but was she ready?

The directive had been clear: Deeply embed himself in the fair town of Paradise, Tennessee, and keep one Melody Song Reardon from forgiving her fornicating ex-fiancé and keep her safe by any means necessary. Fortunately, Retired First Sergeant Callum Valentine had always been a man that got the job done. Unfortunately, nobody told him that while his ‘job’ might be as pretty as a picture, she could be ornery as a wet cat and had a stubborn streak a mile long. Now, he was battling baristas and dodging would-be assassins in an effort to keep one sultry southern minx safe.

He’d thought the Taliban would be the most dangerous force he ever face. Imagine his surprise when he realized that the radical extremists had nothing on one curvy little woman with a wicked edge to her tongue…. a woman that had somehow tangled herself around his cold heart.

★✩★

Melody Song Reardon was done with men. After learning that the man she’d been going to marry was no better than a corporate Casanova in and out of the boardroom and bedroom, she’d decided that love just wasn’t in the cards for her. Which was fine. She was young, smart, and capable… and better yet, she had a dream and a plan: Opening her very own book/yarn store – Hooks & Books. She had the brains. She had the building. And now, she had a freaking bodyguard compliments of her interfering older brother?

She didn’t care how mouthwateringly handsome her so-called savior was; she didn’t need another controlling man in her life telling her what to do. At least, she hadn’t needed one…. until those nerve wracking hang-ups and strange notes took an ominous turn. Now, somebody wants her dead and the only thing standing between her and the Grim Reaper is one seriously gorgeous man named Callum Valentine. Falling in love again in the middle of her own personal apocalypse hadn’t been the plans…then again, the great thing about a plan is that it can change on a dime!

Cal watched her another minute. “You’re a stubborn little ball of fury, aren’t you?” he asked as he watched her try to attach the tool to the lug nut, wincing as the metal slipped for the second time in a row.

Melody took a deep breath before she slowly turned to face her tormenter. “I was brought up believing that a girl should be able to take care of herself. I forgot that lesson for a little while and almost made a mistake I could never undo with a man I’d rather forget. I’m not ever going to repeat that experience again. So, to answer your question, yes, I’m a stubborn little ball of fury. Now, will you please go on your merry way?”

Cal finally gave into the urge and laughed, earning himself a cold look from the woman currently on her knees. “Careful, Princess. I’m gonna get a complex here because it’s beginning to feel like you don’t like me very much,” he taunted her with a wink. Seeing her press her lips together tightly, he knew she was fighting the urge to scream bloody murder at him. Squatting beside her, he met her fiery gaze. “Cat got your tongue, Pretty Girl?”

“No,” she declared with a shake of her head as she looked from him to his jacked up truck. “Do you mind if I ask you a question?”

“Ask away, darlin’,” he invited silkily with a ready nod. “I’m an open book,” he declared, holding his muscular arms out to his sides. And it was true. The book on him was open; it just happened to be written in code, he thought to himself as he gave himself a mental pat on the back for his own wittiness.

Melody offered him a deceptively sweet smile. “Is it true that men use big trucks to compensate for smaller endowments in, well,… other more intimate areas?” she asked, dropping her voice to a conversational whisper as she gave his crotch a rather pointed look.

Cal guffawed. “Are you asking me if I’ve got a tiny dick, Princess? Because I can tell you with a hundred percent honesty that the size of my cock and the size of my truck are very directly related. They’re both big and bad, but if you don’t believe me, I’d be pleased to give you a private showing.”

Melody’s jaw dropped at his audacity. “You… you just can’t say things like that!” she blustered, blushing furiously as he laughed in her face.

“I just did. Besides, you started it,” he accused, propping his hands on his narrow hips as he leaned forward and stared her down. “Don’t dish it out if you can’t handle having it spoon-fed back to you, Princess.” Damn, Cal privately mused, he hadn’t had this much fun with a woman with her clothes on in years. He couldn’t help wondering how exciting she’d be with her clothes off. He definitely be making it a point to find that out as soon as humanly possible.

“I revert to my earlier statement. You are a pig,” she reiterated with a disgusted shake of her head, her ponytail flying over one shoulder to smack him in the face as she moved.

“Maybe, but you’re just mad that you can’t seem to get one-up on me. Not used to a man that will stand his ground and fight with you?” he asked, fishing for a response from her. He wanted to know just how much she’d reveal about her ex-fiancé in casual conversation. Her brother didn’t think there’d been any kind of physical abuse and based on her reactions to him, he tended to think RJ was right, but he wanted to be sure. Because if he was wrong, she wouldn’t need his protection because he’d simply kill the motherfucker and be done with it.

“My former fiancé didn’t fight. It was too low-class a thing for him to do. He used to call our arguments spirited debates. My ass, they were debates. Freaking moron. A fight is a fight, right?” she asked as she grunted with exertion while she tried to pry one of the lug nuts loose.

“Right,” he agreed with a nod, sighing as her tool slipped again. “Politicians have….what did you call ‘em? Spirited debates? Real men and women fight.”

“See, that’s what I thought, too. But maybe that was the problem,” Melody muttered as she twisted the tire iron sharply, silently cursing the tight bolt. “I always did think Bradley had political ambitions. God knows that it’s what his dear old mommy and daddy wanted for him,” she continued to growl through gritted teeth as she twisted the tire iron violently. “Eureka!” she shouted when the bolt moved a few millimeters. “Did you see that? It moved,” she yelped, as her body made a tiny celebratory shimmy.

Cal chuckled softly at her little dance. “Sounds like this Bradley fella was kinda a douche,” he surmised, carefully watching Melody’s face.

“That is the understatement of the frickin’ year. Heck, maybe the decade, too,” Melody muttered, lifting one hand to take a swipe at her sweaty forehead.

Edging toward her, Cal tried to make a grab for the tool in her hand. “Seriously, babe. Let me do that for you,” he demanded gruffly, afraid she was going to either damage the wheel well or herself with her rough use of the tool.

“I’m about done warnin’ you, Stranger, so I’ll try and be real clear one last time. You try to touch my tire iron again and I’m gonna introduce it to the side of that hard head of yours. Repeatedly,” she informed him grimly while she desperately tried to loosen the second lug nut. “And, for the record, let me just state that I am most certainly NOT your babe,” she huffed, panting with exertion.

He could see her energy waning and shook his head. “You’re completely right, you aren’t my babe,” he agreed, covering Melody’s icy hands with his as she growled fiercely at the tire. “Right now, you’re more of my pain in the ass, woman,” he continued, his hands tightening on hers as he helped her turn the lug nut. “This’d be so much easier if you’d just let me do it,” he stated again, afraid he was going to hurt her hand by squeezing it too hard. “Honest to God, sassy, sweet and stubborn is not the sexy combination I thought it would be on you.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sarah O’Rourke is actually two besties who live three states apart and write at all hours of the day and night! Born and raised in the Southern United States, they are overly attached to their one-click accounts, can’t make it through the day without copious doses of caffeine, and spend way too much time on the phone with each other.

Between them, they have four children and eighteen years of marriage…one to a super soldier and the other to egomaniac engineer. They hate empty chocolate wrappers and writer’s block, love to talk to readers…and oh, by the way, they write about strong, kick-ass women and hot alpha heroes!

Been a while since RWBR has reviewed a read. This was the perfect one to get back in the Reading/Reviewing groove! Personally I just love the Paradise Series. I have read some but not all of the collection thus far, but I definitely do have them on my TBR list!! As a Southern gal myself these reads feed my country roots and my romantic heart.

The two fabulous ladies that make up Author Sarah O’Rourke know their stuff! They know how to get right into a readers heart and soul. You must check them out of Facebook. Their own lives are just as entertaining as their stories. Promise, they will usually leave you with a grin or a giggle when you read their posts!

Book Rave

5.0 Rose Writing Rave

As a reader you never knew what was going to happen next. From what feisty words were going to come out of Melody’s mouth next to what innuendo Cal was going to try next. Then it was great to see see the residents of Paradise themselves. The McKinnon sisters, Zeke, and Maggie. Plus we are introduced to a few new residents too. The read just feels you with warm fuzzies, taking you right in to town as if you were a resident in Paradise. I know I sure wish I lived there with all the excitement they have, good food, and great friends. If you haven’t started this series or Tangled Hearts, then I say get to it! Excersize that 1-Click finger today!!!

2.5 TearRave

The love between Cal and Melody is just overflowing. The sweet words these two share with each other are words that any woman wants to hear in real life from her “Man”…

I just couldn’t help but have tears running down my face at how protecting, caring, and loving Cal is to Melody. He makes the absolutely most perfect Book Boyfriend a gal can have. I know I enjoyed my time with him.

4.0 Romance Rave

Ooohhh Cal, Cal, Cal… You are one hot alpha. The things you say to Melody, the innuendoes you tease her with. Man, you make me blush. It’s amazing how you can be so gentle and rough at the same time. Melody dear, you keep having those dirty thoughts about Cal. It’s all right. If I were you I would probably having them too…

Army Strong has a mission….to protect Southern Sassy at all costs.
The directive had been clear: Deeply embed himself in the fair town of Paradise, Tennessee, and keep one Melody Song Reardon from forgiving her fornicating ex-fiancé and keep her safe by any means necessary. Fortunately, Retired First Sergeant Callum Valentine had always been a man that got the job done. Unfortunately, nobody told him that while his ‘job’ might be as pretty as a picture, she could be ornery as a wet cat and had a stubborn streak a mile long. Now, he was battling baristas and dodging would-be assassins in an effort to keep one sultry southern minx safe.
He’d thought the Taliban would be the most dangerous force he ever face. Imagine his surprise when he realized that the radical extremists had nothing on one curvy little woman with a wicked edge to her tongue…. a woman that had somehow tangled herself around his cold heart.
*~*
Melody Song Reardon was done with men. After learning that the man she’d been going to marry was no better than a corporate Casanova in and out of the boardroom and bedroom, she’d decided that love just wasn’t in the cards for her. Which was fine. She was young, smart, and capable… and better yet, she had a dream and a plan: Opening her very own book/yarn store – Hooks & Books. She had the brains. She had the building. And now, she had a freaking bodyguard compliments of her interfering older brother?

She didn’t care how mouthwateringly handsome her so-called savior was; she didn’t need another controlling man in her life telling her what to do. At least, she hadn’t needed one…. until those nerve wracking hang-ups and strange notes took an ominous turn. Now, somebody wants her dead and the only thing standing between her and the Grim Reaper is one seriously gorgeous man named Callum Valentine. Falling in love again in the middle of her own personal apocalypse hadn’t been the plans…then again, the great thing about a plan is that it can change on a dime!

Sarah O’Rourke is actually two besties who live three states apart and write at all hours of the day and night! Born and raised in the Southern United States, they are overly attached to their one-click accounts, can’t make it through the day without copious doses of caffeine, and spend way too much time on the phone with each other.

Between them, they have four children and eighteen years of marriage…one to a super soldier and the other to egomaniac engineer. They hate empty chocolate wrappers and writer’s block, love to talk to readers…and oh, by the way, they write about strong, kick-ass women and hot alpha heroes!

Cal watched her another minute. “You’re a stubborn little ball of fury, aren’t you?” he asked as he watched her try to attach the tool to the lug nut, wincing as the metal slipped for the second time in a row.

Melody took a deep breath before she slowly turned to face her tormenter. “I was brought up believing that a girl should be able to take care of herself. I forgot that lesson for a little while and almost made a mistake I could never undo with a man I’d rather forget. I’m not ever going to repeat that experience again. So, to answer your question, yes, I’m a stubborn little ball of fury. Now, will you please go on your merry way?”

Cal finally gave into the urge and laughed, earning himself a cold look from the woman currently on her knees. “Careful, Princess. I’m gonna get a complex here because it’s beginning to feel like you don’t like me very much,” he taunted her with a wink. Seeing her press her lips together tightly, he knew she was fighting the urge to scream bloody murder at him. Squatting beside her, he met her fiery gaze. “Cat got your tongue, Pretty Girl?”

“No,” she declared with a shake of her head as she looked from him to his jacked up truck. “Do you mind if I ask you a question?”

“Ask away, darlin’,” he invited silkily with a ready nod. “I’m an open book,” he declared, holding his muscular arms out to his sides. And it was true. The book on him was open; it just happened to be written in code, he thought to himself as he gave himself a mental pat on the back for his own wittiness.

Melody offered him a deceptively sweet smile. “Is it true that men use big trucks to compensate for smaller endowments in, well,… other more intimate areas?” she asked, dropping her voice to a conversational whisper as she gave his crotch a rather pointed look.

Cal guffawed. “Are you asking me if I’ve got a tiny dick, Princess? Because I can tell you with a hundred percent honesty that the size of my cock and the size of my truck are very directly related. They’re both big and bad, but if you don’t believe me, I’d be pleased to give you a private showing.”

Melody’s jaw dropped at his audacity. “You… you just can’t say things like that!” she blustered, blushing furiously as he laughed in her face.

“I just did. Besides, you started it,” he accused, propping his handson his narrow hips as he leaned forward and stared her down. “Don’t dish it out if you can’t handle having it spoon-fed back to you, Princess.” Damn, Cal privately mused, he hadn’t had this much fun with a woman with her clothes on in years. He couldn’t help wondering how exciting she’d be with her clothes off. He definitely be making it a point to find that out as soon as humanly possible.

“I revert to my earlier statement. You are a pig,” she reiterated with a disgusted shake of her head, her ponytail flying over one shoulder to smack him in the face as she moved.

“Maybe, but you’re just mad that you can’t seem to get one-up on me. Not used to a man that will stand his ground and fight with you?” he asked, fishing for a response from her. He wanted to know just how much she’d reveal about her ex-fiancé in casual conversation. Her brother didn’t think there’d been any kind of physical abuse and based on her reactions to him, he tended to think RJ was right, but he wanted to be sure. Because if he was wrong, she wouldn’t need his protection because he’d simply kill the motherfucker and be done with it.

“My former fiancé didn’t fight. It was too low-class a thing for him to do. He used to call our arguments spirited debates. My ass, they were debates. Freaking moron. A fight is a fight, right?” she asked as she grunted with exertion while she tried to pry one of the lug nuts loose.

“Right,” he agreed with a nod, sighing as her tool slipped again. “Politicians have….what did you call ‘em? Spirited debates? Real men and women fight.”

“See, that’s what I thought, too. But maybe that was the problem,” Melody muttered as she twisted the tire iron sharply, silently cursing the tight bolt. “I always did think Bradley had political ambitions. God knows that it’s what his dear old mommy and daddy wanted for him,” she continued to growl through gritted teeth as she twisted the tire iron violently. “Eureka!” she shouted when the bolt moved a few millimeters. “Did you see that? It moved,” she yelped, as her body made a tiny celebratory shimmy.

Cal chuckled softly at her little dance. “Sounds like this Bradley fella was kinda a douche,” he surmised, carefully watching Melody’s face.

“That is the understatement of the frickin’ year. Heck, maybe the decade, too,” Melody muttered, lifting one hand to take a swipe at her sweaty forehead.

Edging toward her, Cal tried to make a grab for the tool in her hand. “Seriously, babe. Let me do that for you,” he demanded gruffly, afraid she was going to either damage the wheel well or herself with her rough use of the tool.

“I’m about done warnin’ you, Stranger, so I’ll try and be real clear one last time. You try to touch my tire iron again and I’m gonna introduce it to the side of that hard head of yours. Repeatedly,” she informed him grimly while she desperately tried to loosen the second lug nut. “And, for the record, let me just state that I am most certainly NOT your babe,” she huffed, panting with exertion.

He could see her energy waning and shook his head. “You’re completely right, you aren’t my babe,” he agreed, covering Melody’s icy hands with his as she growled fiercely at the tire. “Right now, you’re more of my pain in the ass, woman,” he continued, his hands tightening on hers as he helped her turn the lug nut. “This’d be so much easier if you’d just let me do it,” he stated again, afraid he was going to hurt her hand by squeezing it too hard. “Honest to God, sassy, sweet and stubborn is not the sexy combination I thought it would be on you.”

*******************************************************

I really am enjoying this Read. Over 80% read so far. Look for review coming soon!

My wip is JB’s story – bodyguard from #playingthegameseries
Here’s a raunchy excerpt:
“Is this… JB the Dom talking… or Officer Bradley wanting to protect and serve… isn’t that the police motto?” My free hand delved beneath the table to place my palm on her knee which she still had crossed over the other one. I gently circled my thumb against the smooth flesh.
“Something like that. But to answer your first question, this is definitely the Dom talking.” To prove my point and to give her a sample of what it would be like I gripped her knee and despite her gasp of shock, manoeuvred it so her legs were now uncrossed and slightly apart. My fingers were itching to dive in and feel if she was wet but I restrained myself; after all we were in a public place

The first READ in #playingthegameseries by #lorraineloveitauthor is FREE!!!

Ava has fantastic penmanship to bring to life a band of male strippers with her own style of panache. It was great to see how Eric put together his team and how Guido the Italian Stallion from ……. (hahahaa not gonna tell you if you haven’t read Strip Teaser ☺ ) got his spot too. ~ Goodreads

I love Ava Manello’s writing style. Her characters are charming and have a sense of humor. You truly route for their happiness because they are so likeable. This story also has a strong plot, and is filled with steamy scenes. ~ Goodreads

Wow… Wow…. Wow, yes the very very talented Ava Manello did it again, she had me gripped from start to finish.
I loved seeing how it all began, I love even more how loveable Eric is, he’s incredibly sweet with a huge amount of sexy thrown in. ~ Goodreads

This was great !! I had already read and loved Strip Teaser…these books have a great storyline and tons of hotness and humor it is just a refreshing change !! ~ We Stole Your Book Boyfriend

About The Author

Ava is a passionate reader, blogger, publisher, and author who loves nothing more than helping other Indie authors publish their books be that reviewing, beta reading, formatting or proofreading. She will always be a reader first and foremost.
She loves erotic suspense that’s well written and engages the reader, and loves promoting the heck out of it for her favourite authors.
As Ava says: “I took a chance and followed a dream when I wrote my first book. It was scary, challenging and hard work, but above all it was worth it.”

4 out of 5 read-ologists recommend this WordPress.com site. ups and downs of writer's insanity and day to day life. I will write whatever makes the voices happy, for a writer that ignores her inner voices is merely a mental breakdown waiting to happen. Keeping the voices happy and creating new worlds for them to play in is my main goal.